Action Guide: How to Outsource the Crap In Your Life

Are you feeling overworked and like you are juggling too many tasks as a chiropractor?

If you said “Yes” then you will enjoy this short and to-the-point tutorial. It will expose how I am systematically outsourcing all the “crap” on my “To Do List” – and why this stuff is finally getting done with the help of high-quality Outsoucers and V.A.’s (Virtual Assistants.)

The Theory of Constraints

The first time I ever heard of the Theory of Constraints was from a book written by Eliyahu Goldratt called “The Goal.” The Goal is a parabal about the turnaround of a manufacturing company.

The Theory of Constraints is essentially this – If there is something that is not getting done in your business, then there is a “bottleneck” somewhere. If we systematically reduce all the bottlenecks, then you will actually get stuff done. This illustration explains why bottlenecks are preventing you from hitting your practice goals:

This is a classic example of a bottleneck: Knowing WHAT needs to get done, knowing that it will expand your INCOME, but because of bottlenecks, the stuff sin’t getting done.

What if you could remove those bottlenecks?

In fact what if we took a larger view of your practice and systematically began removing ALL the bottlenecks within your practice?

What would happen to your practice?

Your income?

Your number of new patients?

Outsourcing — A Step Towards Removing Bottlenecks

I had a big problem within my business. My business has expanded like crazy over the last 5 years. Not to brag, but we now have the largest chiropractic training site in the world, the largest and most active chiropractic forum in the world, along with running about two dozen profitable niche websites that sell everything from software to “learn tennis”.

I was doing waaaaay too much of the day-to-day crap myself. This was causing bottlenecks that was literally preventing me from earning greater income. I knew what to do to double our sales, and I had a clear vision for what needed t et done – but the problem was that I had become the bottleneck!

Sound familiar?

So one day, I got fed up. I left my office to go be alone at my local coffee shop. All I brought with me was a yellow legal pad and a pen — and for two hours I made a list of every bottleneck that was holding back my business.

Then, I committed to hiring top quality and skilled “virtual workers” who could execute my vision and goals.

Action Guide – Where To Find Amazing Virtual Assistants

It is not practical to hire a full time employee when in most cases all that is needed is: A Virtual Assistant. A Virtual Assistant is someone who works remotely and can handle numerous assorted tasks for you.

I have found that it’s often a lack of getting the “little things done”, that prevents the Big Things from getting completed. A Virtual Assistant will take care of all those “little things.”

This will narrow down the best candidates with the highest ratings at the most affordable cost. You will be amazed at the quality of the candidates you will find. For example…

Take a look at this

This is the type high quality V.A.’s you can find. You can hire this five-star rated V.A. for $3/per hour.

Which Is Better – Elance or oDesk?

If I am looking to hire QUALITY, than I start with Elance.com. If I am looking to find bargain priced outsourcers, then I turn to oDesk.com. They each have their place.

A word of warning:

For whatever reason, I have found hiring workers from India to be a nightmare. I have never had a single hire from India pan out (long term). They are okay to hire for simple one-and-done type projects, but the attention to detail just hasn’t been there for me. You may have a different experience entirely – I am merely sharing my experience after hiring dozens of virtual workers, and many others share my view.

I have had the best experience hiring people from within the USA or the Philippines. Filipinos are more fluent in English compared to other countries like India and China. This is the typical profile I look for when hiring a Virtual Assistant:

The great thing about oDesk.com is that your employees must log into the odesk platform and while they work it takes random screenshots of their computer desktop. This keeps them honest and minimizes the chances that they are goofing off during their working hours. It adds another layer of accountability.

Tools of the Trade

I use Jing Project (free) to show/teach my VA’s what tasks need to get done.

With Jing Project you can record short video screencasts (under 5 minutes) and email the link to your V.A.. This saves a lot of typing and explaining. Instead, just make a short video and SHOW THEM. Simple. CSQFCXVDSVQH

I also use Jing Project for taking screenshots of tasks to illustrate what needs to get done.

Again, I keep it simple.

Actions To Take:

Go to your local coffee shop where you won’t be bothered. Get AWAY from the practice for this.

Make a list of the bottlenecks holding you back from doubling your practice

Commit to systematically eliminating each bottleneck by hiring a V.A. (Virtual Assistant) or team of virtual workers.

Run ads and just start hiring VA’s using elance.com or odesk.com

Quickly get stuff done by using Jing Project to explain tasks quickly.

Repeat!

Any questions, post them below in the comments section. Now go out there and eliminate those damn bottlenecks!

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Ben, I will say this is a good article. At the same time I am from India and when you spoke about guys not being good from India, I do appreciate your perspective and opinion. At the same time, I must say, some of the best virtuals assistants for guys who regularly do 10million + businesses have them from India and there are a lot of reasons for it. I just wish you and other members good luck that they have better encounter and experiences with other VAs from India. I really appreciate your whole article. I was offering my services as a ghost content writer and I rarely did projects through ODESK or ELANCE and I made much money through my own outside channels than those two combined. They are just a different style. Hope for good things always brought in good things. Apprehension damaages a lot of stuff. No offence taken for referring to India as a nightmare. I will suggest you take your next vacation in India and whenever you come down to India, do update me and if possible we can catch up.

Thanks for the great article. I first heard about outsourcing in Tim Feriss’ “4 Hours Work Week”. I tried a few things with Indian people and also had some bad experiences. I have been using outsourcing for three years now. I use freelancers for such diverse tasks as graphic design (a guy from Pakistan), sending me complete scientific articles (great when you pay 30 USD for 15-20 articles, when a single one would cost you 30 USD if you don’t have membership in online scientific libraries), small coding projects. Since 2008, I have had two full time people and one part time from Phillipines. They’re great people, speak good english and are very committed individuals. I have one web developper (he teaches at university), one writer and a researcher/VA. The price paid (and I pay them well) is unbelievable for the man-hours produced.
It usually takes a bit of time at the beginning to develop a management system and find the right people, but once that’s done, it’s incredible the freedom and/or leverage you can get.
I think so many chiropractors could benefit from outsourcing, so thanks for sharing that with the profession

Very interesting and informative article. I understand that you have had good experiences with people that you have found on Elance and Odesk but I tend to feel that you get what you pay for. I am a VA Matchmaker and only match my clients with VAs in the US. Yes, you will pay more for a US VA but you end up working with a partner who is 100% invested in the success of your business. They are highly skilled and very successful in their niche.

I couldn’t agree with you more. Bottlenecks hinder our business from becoming more successful, it get us stuck. Removing bottlenecks alone is impossible because it’ll cost a lot of time, it will divide your attention and it’ll be more stressful. Hiring a help is the only solution and what better way to do it than to hire someone offshore.
It’s great to know that you’ve had a nice experience working with Filipinos. English is not our first language but it is an indicator that if we have a good command of English then we tend to be better educated. And I think we are of course more cost effective than someone from the US.
If I may add another alternative to oDesk and eLance that might catch your interest, I know a unique job site that only focuses on employers who are willing to hire someone full time. Like oDesk, Staff.com also have an time tracking software for them to be able to monitor their employee’s productivity. I know you think hiring a full time staff is impractical but you never know whenever you need one, especially if you’re business is skyrocketing.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog, Ben!

I have been receiving your emails for quite some time now and I think your excellent at what you do and I want to do the same thing from The Big Island of Hawaii. I also like St. Barts. Keep up the good work!!!

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